Keith Boanas takes his Chatham Town Women’s side to Chesham United this week with the Chats looking for their first road win on the road this season in just their third League game away from the Bauvill. 

Reflecting on his sides 5-2 win over Dorking Wanderers Women in the Women’s FA Cup last weekend, the Chats coach told us, “We knew it was going to be tough as they have the backing through the men’s side and beat Ashford in the last round, who we struggled against last week!

“They looked at that and probably came here fancying their chances. We had some chats in the week with the players having more confidence within the game to coach themselves rather than and that was the challenge we set them this week. And we did that – yes, we are disappointed with the two goals that we conceded as they came from errors.” 

“The fact that we have come into the competition a round earlier gives the Club a financial boost and then to win last Sunday actually gives us more prize money than when I won the competition in 2005 with Charlton which is a massive boost for the backing, we get from the Club – a thank you for what they provide for us!” 

“We didn’t play very well the weekend before, in fact we were awful against Ashford and the biggest positive took was that we got the points but the performance was unacceptable and below par and we have had discussions afterwards and to be fair they responded well in training.

“I think it was the three weeks previous that caused the problem where we had no game and won two Cup games (against Horsham and Sheppey United) far too easily, it made us complacent even though they were warned in training that they wouldn’t win twelve of fifteen nil. But they started against Ashford as it would all just fall into place but they didn’t give us the time or the space that we got in the Cup games.

“It was common sense but the players didn’t realise it until almost too late. We did grow into the game last week and have two or three more as well as Lucy’s (Jones) goal but the ten minutes was hectic when it shouldn’t have been.” 

Division One South East of the Women’s National League is in incredibly close as the teams head into November with just five points separating current leaders Actonian’s and QPR in eighth place with Boanas’s side sitting fourth, just three points behind the leaders with a game in hand.

“Goal difference could matter in this League and the table has tightened up very quickly,” the manager admitted.

“Norwich seems to be drawing with everyone at the moment, Real Bedford are kicking into gear, a team I still think we should have beaten at their place rather than the 1-1 draw and Chesham who we have on Sunday this week are proving to be a really weird one.

“At home they seem strong, they held Norwich there but when they go away it’s like a different team as they have lost almost every away game by a big scoreline. But as I say at home, they seem to have something different, so we will have to be on our game when we go there on Sunday.”